Ranji Trophy 2022-23: Karnataka reach semis after thrashing Uttarakhand
Karnataka have reached the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 with an innings victory over Uttarakhand in the quarter-finals. It was an emphatic performance from Mayank Agarwal's men as Uttarakhand never really looked in the hunt. They eventually lost by a massive margin of an innings and 181 runs. Muralidhara Venkatesh and Shreyas Gopal were instrumental to Karnataka's win. Here are the key stats.
How did the game pan out?
Karnataka won the toss and opted to bowl at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Their bowlers justified the decision as Uttarakhand were folded for 116. In reply, Karnataka posted a mammoth 606 with Shreyas Gopal shining with a century. The top-four batters scored half-centuries. Uttarakhand could only manage 209 in their last innings as Muralidhara Venkatesh bagged a five-for.
Gopal races past 3,000 FC runs
Gopal slammed an unbeaten 161 off 288 balls (16 fours, one six). It was the fifth century of Gopal's First-Class career. He also has 13 half-centuries in the format. Gopal raced past 3,000 First-Class runs (3,118) in what was his 75th appearance. Gopal's unbeaten 161 is now his best score in red-ball cricket. The leg-spinner also bagged three wickets in the game.
6,500 FC runs for Mayank
Karnataka skipper Mayank smoked a fiery 83 off just 109 balls, a knock laced with 12 boundaries and a six. During the course of his knock, the batter also completed 6,500 runs in First-Class cricket. He now owns 6,540 runs in 89 games at a brilliant average of 45.1. In the ongoing tourney, he has slammed 686 runs at an average of 68.6.
Fifer for Muralidhara Venkatesh
Meanwhile, Karnataka pacer Muralidhara Venkatesh, who was standing his second FC game, took seven wickets in the contest. This includes a fifer in the first innings. Notably, he recorded a five-wicket haul on his FC debut as well.
Other Key performers for Karnataka
Agarwal's opening partner Ravikumar Samarth also scored a well-paced 82 off 108 balls. Karnataka's number-three and number-four batters, Devdutt Padikkal and Nikin Jose also chipped in with fifties. The duo scored 69 off 121 balls and 62 off 100 balls, respectively. All-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham scored a handy 70-ball 39 with the bat alongside scalping a couple of wickets in the game.
1,434 runs for Padikkal
Padikkal has now raced to 1,434 runs in 23 FC games at an impressive average of 37.73. The tally includes 11 fifties and a couple of tons. Meanwhile, Samarth now owns 5,146 runs in 78 FC games at 41.50. The 30-year-old has smashed 13 tons and 26 fifties in FC cricket. Gowtham owns 1,394 runs and 220 wickets in 58 matches.
